brimstone witch 09 - witch is dead Page 16
Tobias lifted his chin proudly. “It was mine. I casually mentioned it to Selena one day and said Gethin would love some new potions which I’d concocted. It was easy to make them. I didn’t need to use magic, just the right ingredients as Henrietta so helpfully noted in her spell books. I mentioned a ridiculously high amount of money to Selena. But Gethin paid. And continued to pay.”
I shook my head. “How could you do that to Henrietta? She had a good reputation amongst the residents, and you were destroying that by helping Gethin. It was Henrietta’s kind heart which brought you into her home. I spoke to Henrietta’s sister and she told me how you’d turned up on Henrietta’s doorstep one day looking bedraggled and half starved to death. Henrietta took you in and looked after you.”
Stanley muttered, “He’s a disgrace to cats everywhere.”
Tobias said, “I’d seen Henrietta around town. I knew she was a soft touch. I was homeless. I could put up with being a cat if it meant I had a home and free food. The opportunity with Selena and Gethin was too good to pass up. I was going to take my money and run. But that witch found out what I’d done. Perhaps by accident. Who can say? I had to kill her. I had a good scheme going. I was going to do it again in another town.” His eyes narrowed. “How do you know it was me who killed her?”
“I found a way to return her to her enchanted state. I found the poison on her wart. I linked it to the plants used in Selena’s potion. I also linked the other ingredients to those used in Memory Mist and sleeping draughts. Henrietta had those plants in her home and you had access to them. How did you administer the poison? Did you wait until Henrietta changed into her enchanted state and then ply her with Memory Mist?”
Tobias smiled to himself. “Something like that. You should have seen the look on her face when she realised who I was. It made me laugh to know how much I’d fooled her. Let me tell you how much she screamed when she died.”
I held my hand up. “I don’t want to know anymore about Henrietta’s death at the moment. Selena told me early on that this town is full of shapeshifters. A comment from Luca made me realise you’d never met him. That wasn’t an accident. You kept out of his way when you were in cat form because he’d know in a second who you really were.”
“And I do know. We’ve crossed paths before,” Luca said as he walked towards us. He stared at Tobias who cowered slightly. “I thought you’d left town for good after what you did last time.” He turned to me. “Don’t waste another second talking to him. He’s not worth it. He can’t justify his actions because he doesn’t have a conscience. This is not the first suspicious death he’s been involved in. You can leave him to me now. I’ve already sent a message to Blythe. She’s on her way.”
I heard a sob coming from Stanley. I picked him up and muttered, “It’s okay. It’s all over now. He fooled me too. He even fooled Blythe.”
“But he killed his witch,” Stanley sniffed. “How could he do that?”
Luca stroked his head. “Listen, my friend, don’t give him another thought. He’s nothing like you. He’s devious and calculating. He’ll be taking pleasure from your pain. Go home with Cassia now. The sooner you forget about him, the better.”
Stanley leant his head against my shoulder. My heart ached for him. He’d treated Tobias like a treasured friend.
Luca said to me, “Go back to your gran’s. She’s been worried sick about you for days. Don’t worry about the paperwork for this case. I’ll take care of it.”
“But what about Vera?”
“She’s fine. She was talking the ears off Dr Morgan when I left them. Darren Vexx is fine too. He’s furious about what happened to him and says he’ll have to rethink his training programme.” His glance went to Stanley. “You have to get this one home. Take good care of him. And let your gran take good care of you. I’ll speak to you later.” He put his arm around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. “I’m saying this with the utmost respect – clear off.”
I smiled up at him and then walked away without a backwards glance at the evil being who had killed Henrietta Whitmore.
Chapter 33
It was the day after when I found myself in Blythe’s front room again. Once more, Gran was marching up and down the carpet and venting her anger. It wasn’t directed at Blythe this time; it was directed at me. Even though Gran had been full of understanding and compassion upon my return, she’d had time to sleep since then and now she was full of other emotions.
She jabbed her finger at me. “How could you put Luca in that position? Using him as bait! Bait! He could have been killed. And what about Stanley? You left him alone with a killer more than once.”
Blythe interjected, “Cassia didn’t know Tobias was a killer at that point. Esther, calm down. My carpet is already showing signs of age. I don’t need you to speed that process up.”
Gran completely ignored her and continued to point her accusing finger at me. “I spoke to Dr Morgan and after some badgering, she told me about that spell you performed in her presence! You know how dangerous that spell is! I’ve told you that before! But will you listen? Oh no, you think you know better.”
I shrank further into the cushions on the sofa hoping I could be absorbed by them. Why didn’t I know how to make myself invisible? There must be a spell for that.
Blythe interrupted again, “So let me get this right, Esther. Cassia is willful and takes unnecessary risks in the pursuit of a goal. Who does that remind me of?” She tapped her chin in mock thought.
“This is all your fault!” Gran rounded on Blythe. “I told you not to send Cassia to that town. I could have dealt with this murder case. I could have dealt with that monstrous creature. And I wouldn’t have put anyone’s life in danger!”
“That’s enough!” a voice full of authority boomed out.
I blinked and looked down at the owner of that voice. It was my mild-mannered cat.
Stanley leapt off the sofa and marched up to Esther. “Cassia has been through enough these last few days, and so have I. I don’t mean to be disrespectful Esther, but I can’t let you carry on shouting at her. Cassia has made a huge difference to that town. The residents are happier now. Luca’s told us that the butterflies are working again and delivering messages. The miserable rain has even stopped! If that wasn’t enough, she captured those evil vampires and collected enough evidence to put them away for a long time.”
Gran tried to speak.
Stanley put up a paw to shush her. “As well as doing that, she caught a killer. Again. There hasn’t been one case where she hasn’t caught the killer. She always puts others needs before her own. Including mine. She’s taken extra good care of me since we came back from Dingy Skipper. She’s been making my favourite food and singing me to sleep. So what if she’s made mistakes? We all make mistakes. Haven’t you made mistakes?”
He stopped talking and stared up at Gran. She crouched next to him and I thought she was going to change him into a rock or something. Her face broke into a smile and she said, “Of course I’ve made mistakes. I didn’t know you could talk so loudly, Stanley. Cassia’s lucky to have you as her cat.”
Stanley chuckled and said, “I’m the lucky one.”
Gran looked over at me and her eyes filled with tears. She said, “What can I say? I’m an old fool who worries too much. Help me up so I can give you a hug.”
I was at her side in a flash. I felt my own eyes brimming with tears as we hugged.
Blythe gave a polite cough and said, “When you’ve finished being all soppy with each other, I want to tell you the latest news from Dingy Skipper.”
I helped Gran over to the sofa. We sat next to each other and held hands. Stanley sat on my knee and purred.
Blythe said, “I caught up with Cordelia and had a long chat with her. I reminded her of the oaths she’d taken years ago. I told her running away wasn’t an option when you’re a witch in charge of a town. I didn’t stop talking to her until she felt a great deal of remorse.”
“Quite right t
oo,” Gran noted.
“Cordelia returned to Dingy Skipper late last night,” Blythe said. “She’s amazed at the transformation which has occurred there and feels even more remorseful.”
“As she should,” Gran said.
Blythe continued, “She extends her thanks to you, Cassia, and to Stanley. She’s amazed at what you’ve achieved and says you are welcome to return to the town anytime.” She pulled a look of disgust. “She even offered you a job there. I told her where to shove her job offer and told her to find her own justice witch.”
“Quite right too.” It was Stanley who answered this time.
Blythe gave me a soft look. “Of course, you have my full thanks. Are you glad you went to Dingy Skipper?”
“I am. It’s not as bad as everyone makes out. There are always good beings around. It’s just harder to find them sometimes.”
With a casual tone in her voice, Blythe said, “So if another town asked for your help in the future, would you go there? No matter how dangerous?”
“Now just a minute!” Gran exploded.
Blythe laughed. “I’m only kidding, Esther. Cassia’s got more than enough work to keep her busy in Brimstone.”
Stanley said, “If a case does come up in another town, we will deal with it, won’t we, Cassia? We can deal with anything together.”
I stroked Stanley’s head and thought how lucky I was to have him. I said, “We certainly can, Stanley.”
About the author
I live in a county called Yorkshire, England with my family. This area is known for its paranormal activity and haunted dwellings. I love all things supernatural and think there is more to this life than can be seen with our eyes.
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Warm wishes
April Fernsby
The Brimstone Witch Mysteries:
Book 1 - Murder Of A Werewolf
Book 2 - As Dead As A Vampire
Book 3 - The Centaur’s Last Breath
Book 4 - The Sleeping Goblin
Book 5 - The Silent Banshee
Book 6 - The Murdered Mermaid
Book 7 - The End Of The Yeti
Book 8 - Death Of A Rainbow Nymph
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The Witch Is Dead
A Brimstone Witch Mystery
(Book 9)
By
April Fernsby
www.aprilfernsby.com
Copyright 2017 by April Fernsby
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, electronically or mechanically without permission from the author.